Combined distilling-column and condenser



(No Model.)

B. BOLTON. COMBINED DISTILLING COLUMN AND CONDENSER.

No. 440,087. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

FIG-.1.

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Inventor 45.625 33. W

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD B OLTON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

COMBINED DlSTlLLlNG-COLUMN AND CONDENSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,087, dated November 4, 1890.

' Application filed July 14,1890. $erial No. 358,650. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern! Be it known that I, EDWARD BOLTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Distilling-Columns and Condensers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being had to the annexed drawings, which form apart of this specification.

This invention relates to those combined distilling-columns and condensers which include a series of coil-sections placed one above another within an inclosing cylinder or shell; and my improvement comprises a specific arrangement of the various worms constituting each individual coil-section, which arrangement is as follows: The column is usually provided with three or more coil-sections, and each section 1s Iorm ed of anumber worms is necessary, no matter how many coilsections may be employed. The result of thus' decreasing the vertical and horizontal spaces between the worms is to limit the area of passages in one part of the'column and to enlarge the area of passages in another part of the apparatus. Consequently as steam ascends within the column and becomes cooler, the contracted passages bring the vapor in very close contact with the worms; but by increasing the area of these passages downward the condensed fluids can fall into the still without interfering with the vapor arising therefrom,as hereinafter more fully described.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the preferred construction ofmy distilling-column and condenser. Figs. 2

and 3 are plans of portions of two of the coils of the same. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of one of said coils detached from the column.

A represents the lower shell of a distillingcolumn such as is usually mounted upon stills, and B is a division that slopes inwardly and centrally to the fusel-oil pipe C, the upper portion of said division or plate '13 being pierced at b to permit the vapor to enter said column in numerous fine jets.

Located above this perforated plate is an annular flange D, tightly secured within the shell Aand serving to support the lower coilsection, which is arranged as follows: The upper member of this section consists of a pipe E, bent to the shape of an ordinary worm or volute, the outer coil of said section being provided with an inlet e, commu nicating with a common supply-pipe F, having a regulating-valve f; but the inner coil of this section has a descending exit 6, (seen more clearly in Fig. 4,) which exit communicates with the center coil of a second Worm or volute E, whose outer coil has a descending exit 2 joined to the outer coil of a third worm E as seen in Fig. 1. The inner coil of this worm has a descending exit 6 communicating with the inner coil of the fourth worm E whose outer coil has a descending exit 6, joined to the outer coil of the fifth worm E The inner coil of this worm has a descending exit c communicating with the inner coil of sixth worm E the outer coil of the latter being provided with a discharge pipe G, leading up to a trough H, that conducts the warm water away from the apparatus, and if desired said pipe may be provided with a cock, as indicated by dotted circle g to regulate the discharge.

I are partitions or plates closing the spaces between the center coils, and J are other plates or partitions extending from the coilsof least diameter to the shell A, the object of the partitions being to prevent the vapor passing through the column without coming into intimate contact with the various coils or worms. These various coils are arranged substantially as seen in Fig. 4, so as to compel the vapor to describe a very tortuous route as it ascends within the column.

said coils N. of the intermediate coil-section L are some- K arebars or other beams, that separate the coils as far as may be necessary.

Securely fastened upon the shell A is another shell A, having an internal annular flange D for the support of the second coilsection, which is constructed precisely like the first section, L being the various worms of this second section, Z the inlet, and M m the valve-guarded discharge-pipe leading up to trough H.

Securelyfastened upon the shell A is another shell A having an internal annular flange D for the support of the third coil-section, which is constructed precisely like the other sections E L.

Nrepresents the various worms of this third section; n, the inlet of the same, and O 0 the valve-guarded discharge-pipe leading up to the trough H. P is the cap of the column, and p the outlet-pipe for the escape of vapor.

In constructing my improved distilling-column any suitable number of coil-sections may be used; but for most purposes three will be sufficient, and in fitting them within the shell of the apparatus care must be taken to have considerable room both vertically and horizontally between the various worms of the lower section, as seen in Fig. 4; but the worms of the upper section N must be quite close together, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, which arrangement is readily eifected by dispensing with the beams K and fitting rings R around The spaces betweenthe worms what greater than the similar spaces of the upper coil-section, which regular upward decrease in the size of said spaces must be carried out, no matter how many coil-sections are used.

The operation of this column is as follows: The vapor escaping from the still first ascends within thelower shell A, and, passing through the perforations 12, comes in contact with the various worms of the lower coil-section E. The vapor then passes successively around or between the various worms of the intermediate coil-section L and upper coil-section N, and finally escapes at the outlet 19, but not until it has been robbed of most of its heat and impurities, the fusel-oil being precipitate-d upon the plate B and discharged at the pipe 0. When the apparatus is in operation,

the cooks f, g,m, and 0 are opened to regulate the flow of water through the various coilsections, the current being compelled to describe the following sinuous route in traversing the lower section: The water first enters it at inlet 6', circulates within the upper coil E until it reaches the inner end of the latter, and is then discharged down the exit 6' into the inner or central coil of the second worm E. The water then circulates outwardly within this worm and is discharged down its exit 6 into the outer coil of the third worm E The water now flows inwardly or to the center of this worm, descends through its exit e into the center coil of the fourth worm E which alternate outward and inward flow is carried on until the water has traversed every coil of this section and finally escapes up the discharge-pipe G into the trough or gutter H. Precisely the same flow takes place through the other coil-sections L and N, the water being admitted to the upper worms of said coils and after circulating through them being discharged at their res peetive outlet-pipes M O, the valves of which m o are first properly regulated. These valves should be so adjusted as to induce sucha flow through the coil-sections as to keepthem at practically the same temperature, and by causing the outlet-pipes GM 0 of these sections to discharge into a common elevated receptacle H, located above the inlet of the upper coil-section N, an equal and continuous circulation of water within said coils is effected. It is evident that as the vapor ascends within the column the lower sides of the coils will be comparatively hot, while their upper sides are cool. Consequently condensation will take place on the upper surfaces of the coils at the same time that evaporation occurs on their under surfaces. It will thus be seen that a constant evaporation and condensation is taking place throughout the entire apparatus, and by contracting or limiting the spaces between, the upper coils the vapor is brought into more intimate contact withQthem; but by enlarging or increasing the spaces between the lower coils or worms more room is afforded for the condensed fluids to drop down into the still. Furthermore, by leaving open or unobstructed chambers, as S and S between the different coil-sections each coil is isolated from its neighbor, and there is no danger of one coil affecting the temperature of another.

I am aware it is not new to provide a distilling-column with a series of coil-sections composed of a single worm, and I am also aware that in some cases these single worms have been brought nearer together as they approached the upper part of the shell; but I know of no instance where such coil-sections have been formed of a series of worms arranged as herein described, with the vertical and horizontal spaces between them contracted vertically. Therefore my claim is not to be construed broadly, but is expressly limited to this upward decrease of the vertical and horizontal passages between the worms.

I claim as my invention The within-described specific construction of distilling-column and condenser, which construction combines a series of coil-sections arranged one above another within an inclosing-shell, each separate section being composed of a number of worms connected alternately at their outer and inner ends, and the vertical and horizontal spaces between the worms of these sections being decreased up- In testimony whereof I affix my signature in wardly, as herein described, whereby conpresence of two witnesses. tracted passages are formed in the upper part of the column for the ascent of steam, and EDWARD BOLTON. 5 comparatively enlarged passages in the lower Witnesses:

part of said column for the descent of con JAMES H. LAYMAN, densation, all as set forth. A. W. MCCORMICK.

N i 00 I 3 I It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent .No. 440,087, granted November 4:, 18 90, I upon the application of Edward Bolton, of Cincinnati, Ohio, for an improvement in a 2 Combined Distilling-Column and Condenser, errors appear in the printed specifica- "5 i tion requiring the following corrections: In lines 1 and 32, page 2, the word beams 5 should read bearers and that the Letters Patent should be read with these corrections w therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. E3 Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 18th day of November, A. D. 1890. H 3 [SEAL] CYRUS BUssEY,

: i Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

Qountersigned: g G. E. MITCHELL, *3 Commissioner of Patents.

2 y L 0 Q3 

